(Somewhat tangential) Is Slavoj Zizek a "real philosopher", or a troll? I found him through a reference to qanda someone had posted here, and I'm pretty sure it's a troll.
He does have a PhD in Philosophy from a university in Slovenia. However, he's generally lumped in with the post-*-ist critical theory crowd. When he does his inexplicably popular academic guest lectures he's sponsored by the cultural studies department, not the philosophy department (unless it's a philosophy department with a non-analytical bent, like the New School).
He is definitely a troll, though. That's kind of his thing. I think he would even agree with that label.
He has a talent for getting attention and seems to enjoy it. But to call him a troll would be a great disservice to his work. His ideas are very "flammable" though, so I can understand you seeing him as troll.
Perhaps best approach to Žižek is through his film commentaries. Watch The Pervert's Guide To Cinema.
I am not a philosopher but I used to spend a lot of time with the philosophy grad department. I am under the impression that "cultural critic" is a dead giveaway for not a "real philosopher."
He is definitely a troll, though. That's kind of his thing. I think he would even agree with that label.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/pageviews/2013/03/why-we-sl...